What is Mini-TES?
The Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) will provide remote measurements of mineralogy and thermophysical properties of the landscape around the Mars Exploration Rovers, and guide the Rovers to key targets for detailed investigation by other Rover experiments. Mini-TES collects high-resolution infrared spectra that will help identify the mineralogy of all geologic materials including silicates, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, oxides and hydroxides. Mini-TES will also measure the lower atmospheric boundary layer and provide information on suspended dust, water ice, and water vapor opacity. The Mini-TES is a miniaturized version of the Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) built by Arizona State University and Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing for the Mars Observer and Mars Global Surveyor missions.